THV 11 story helps high school student get $40k scholarship

Governor Mike Beebe and the General Assembly voted Friday to take $2 million from the state's rainy day fund and put it toward the Governor's distinguished scholarship. This program is for students who make a 32 or above on their ACT and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA. As it turned out, through our follow up of the funding story we helped Cody Vaughn realize he will get the award.

"She sounded like she was about to cry," as Vaughn got off the phone with his mother.

Vaughn initially thought his hard work slipped through the cracks.

"I wouldn't have been able to go to college beforehand because I wasn't awarded enough scholarship," said Vaughn.

THV 11 reached out to Pulaski County Schools to hear from students hoping for scholarship awards. THV 11 interviewed with Vaughn Friday morning and he thought he'd missed the deadline.

Later THV 11 called the department of higher education, and to make a long story short, state officials realized Vaughn actually applied back in January, but put in a wrong number somewhere along the way. Because of his hard work and our story he will now receive the Governor's Distinguished Scholarship worth $40,000.

Vaughn wants to be a doctor one day, and if successful, he wants to give back.

"That's so much stress off my back now so just generally I'll be able to relax more," said Vaughn.

Vaughn plans to major in pre-med at the University of Arkansas this fall.